StudyQA — Master: Finance — Toulouse Business School

Description Contents Requirements Funding

The Master of Science Finance from Toulouse Business School comprises classes adapted to the current realities of business and finance taught by academics and professionals from the industry. The finance major covers various topics in finance, ranging from corporate finance, financial analysis to asset pricing and international finance taught by faculty coming from different European universities and business schools as well as from industry. This global experience as well as the mix of academia and practice provides students with a masterkey designed to unlock a large array of careers in finance.

1ST SEMESTER (JANUARY-JUNE)

Common subjects

Focused on developing an understanding of the complexity of business and general management.

The Business Plan: The capacity to identify and develop a business opportunity is an essential skill for any manager. This subject provides the technical tools to succeed in this task, with special emphasis on the financial and accounting aspects.

Company Strategy: How management can make a business profitable. Understanding the competitive environment (markets, competitors, etc.), utilising internal resources and capabilities and determining strategies based on this knowledge to create a business advantage.

International Business: The tools to understand how different regional business environments operate from multiple perspectives (economic, legal, cultural, social), and methods for discovering the options available to businesses to help them thrive in these environments.

System Dynamics: Organizations are complex and changing systems. This subject develops the ability to analyse any type of organization from a systems perspective and propose the necessary adjustments to improve the workings of processes, flows and exchanges.

Human Resources: Understanding management of the potential of people and talent within organizations, and how to harness that potential in a way that is synergistic to company development. How an organizational culture is developed and the relationships between this, leadership and individual and collective performance

Core subjects in Finance

In-depth study of the world of finance. The focus in this period is predominantly academic, dedicated to the study of models, approaches and techniques concerning the different elements of accounting and finance, with concepts illustrated through application, intensive use of IT tools and a solid command of mathematics.

These subjects are grouped in three units:

Corporate finance and business value:

This unit covers the set of tools needed to devise and implement financial strategies, manage finance departments and monitor the profitability of a business. It begins with an introduction to the basics of finance anddevelops on these themes. Secondly, it provides insight into different methods of covering financial risk, especially those relating to foreign exchange. Finally, it provides instruction in the tools required to analyse a company and its competitive environment and to assess and manage its value.

Capital markets and business value:

This unit concerns a variety of pricing models for derivative products widely used in business to cover financial risks. It also covers the analysis of debt securities, which are the major source of business financing, as well as the instruments and tools used to manage interest rate risk. Techniques for cash management and the development of financial models for the implementation of financial decisions are also discussed.

Relevant topics in corporate finance:

Includes models used to develop a greater understanding of advanced corporate finance, in theory and practice:taxation and commercial law, capital investment markets and tools, structured finance techniques for optimal management of asset purchase or export financing. Also covers international accounting standards and the skills required for effective assessment of business value.

Business game

At the end of the first semester, students are divided into teams to compete with each other as if they were different companies in the same industry. Added complexity comes from the fact that competing teams may be in Barcelona or on the main campus in Toulouse.

2ND SEMESTER (SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER)

Strategy intensive

An intensive strategy course that involves revisiting concepts from the first year, developing and applying them to the resolution of highly complex real business cases.

Professional Options

The program offers two professional options: Management Control and Financial Management.

In contrast to the first semester of common and core subjects, the approach here is strongly focussed on professional tools. Many of the teachers are active professionals who can draw upon significant expertise and illustrate typical professional situations that are likely to be encountered.

OP Financial Management

Current economic instability around the world, the shrinking of margins due to hyper-competitive markets and the volatility of financial markets make it more necessary than ever for financial managers to be aware of howfinancial management decisions can affect the success of any business.

The increasing complexity of business and financial environments means there is a consistently high demand for qualified personnel in the area of corporate finance and financial management. Financial systems and thestrategies of financial services firms are currently in a phase of fundamental realignment and long-term change.The strategic priority of banks and companies has moved away from growth itself to place greater emphasis on profitability, performance and value creation for shareholders. The increasing economic significance of the financial sector draws attention to the fact that bankers, financial managers, regulators and consultants musthave a clear understanding of theory and practice relating to management accounting, banking and corporate finance. Companies basically face two broad financial questions: What investments should the company make and how to pay for them? The first question involves spending money, the second, how to get it.

The OP Financial Management is oriented toward answering the many questions facing financial managers and bankers. It is designed to prepare finance professionals with a strong background in analytical decision-makingand practices. This is a profile increasingly sought after by multinational corporations and financial institutions(banks, investment funds, pension funds, insurance companies, auditing or consulting firms, as well as the financial management departments of companies around the world). More specifically, the OP Financial Management develops tools that allow the student to:

- Analyse and solve complex financial problems;

- Formulate alternative strategies;

- Be aware of the implications of different strategic options;

- Understand the willingness of different stakeholder groups;

- Develop greater knowledge of corporate finance and financial management;

- Acquire professional competence in terms of initiative, autonomy and communication.

- Analyse and solve complex financial problems;

- Formulate alternative strategies;

- Be aware of the implications of different strategic options;

- Understand the willingness of different stakeholder groups;

- Develop greater knowledge of corporate finance and financial management;

- Acquire professional competence in terms of initiative, autonomy and communication.

OP Management Control and Governance

The OP Management Control and Governance prepares students for positions such as financial controller,internal auditor or consultant. Potentially acting as guarantors of the veracity of financial data, partners and advisors to operations managers or agents of change, these professionals must have extensive knowledge in their fields as well as the broad know-how and skills to tackle the various facets of their responsibilities, and a keen understanding of the strategic commitments of a business.

This OP is part of the KPMG lecture series on strategic management planning in SMEs. In this program studentsundertake a field study to analyse the performance management practices of SMEs, in effect, strategic dashboards. These projects are tutored by a representative of KPMG Middle Market France and an award is presented for the best fieldwork project.

SESAME

A consulting project performed in teams, often interdisciplinary, comprising the strategic assessment of a real company and the proposal of strategic recommendations. This is an exciting practical activity that implies the application of all competences developed throughout the program.